Asia/Pacific News
Malaysia Detains Singapore Tankers
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained six tankers and a barge on July 3, 2012 after they were suspected of being anchored in restricted waters off Pengerang, Johor.
Three of the vessels were registered in Singapore, one in San Lorenzo, one in Tarawa, Kiribati, and two vessels did not produce their ship registration documents.
The operation took place between the hours of noon and 2:30pm and involved 6 MMEA vessels and 40 officers.
A MMEA statement said 82 crew were also detained; 54 Indonesians, 14 Myanmar nationals, 12 from Thailand, and two Chinese nationals.
First Admiral Adon Shalan, Chief of the Southern Region Maritime Enforcement, said all of the detained ships would be investigated for failing to comply with local laws and regulations including being anchored in restricted waters, failing to report the arrival of a vessel to the Director General of the Marine Department, and preventing the passage of other ships through the waters.
The First Admiral added that the presence of the ships was dangerous and could have resulted in a vessel collision, loss of life, or an oil spill.
The ships detained included the Singapore registered vessels Erwan Adventure, MT Krysper Singa and MT Titan Wisdom, the San Lorenzo registered Atami Maru and the Tarawa, Kiribati registered MT Ruyi.
The MT Eastern and the KGT failed to produce their ship registration documents.
